Dozens of close-by activities and fun attractions that will interest anyone, plus fascinating natural and cultural history

Nowhere else in North America do alpine tundra, tall forests of evergreen and aspen, and massive desert dunes meet so dramatically as in our nation's newest crown jewel. This book is your essential guide to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Camping, wildlife viewing, hiking, backpacking, climbing, mountain biking, dunes snowboarding - the recreational opportunities at "The Dunes" are endless. Slide down the highest sand dunes on the continent, backpack to a pristine high-country lake or climb one of Colorado's legendary 14,000-foot peaks. Soak in a hot springs pool beneath the stars, tour a working bison ranch or experience an alligator farm!"Medano and Sand Creeks' journeys through so many of North America's ecosystems - tundra, subalpine evergreen and aspen forest, ponderosa pine groves, pinyon-juniper woodlands, cottowood riparian areas, dunes, grasslands and wetlands - now take place within an area managed by the National Park Service, protected for all future generations to enjoy and study. At Great Sand Dunes, the opportunity to see wildlife from these starkly contrasting ecosystems - sometimes in a single view - is yet another reason why this unique park is one of national and international significance."
- National Park Service

The goal with this guide has been to provide a definitive resource that any visitor to the Park and Preserve can use. Whether you are a hiker, climber, backpacker, equestrian, mountain biker, camper, photographer, 4WD enthusiast, bird watcher, or dunes snowboarder, you'll find the information you need in this guide to pursue your adventures in the Park and Preserve. Even if you need to limit your explorations to just a stop at the Visitor Center, our chapters on the fascinating natural and human history of this unique place will help you understand why our nation has chosen to protect it as one of our crown jewels. And beyond the boundaries of the Park and Preserve are other opportunities to experience the magic of this special corner of the Colorado Rockies. Use this guide to explore the rich heritage and culture of the San Luis Valley or to climb to the heights of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains for an eagle's eye view of this recreational paradise.

The Wingers live within 50 miles of the Great Sand Dunes near Beulah, Colorado. CHARLIE WINGER began hiking and climbing in the mid-seventies when he moved to Colorado and has developed strong mountaineering skills. DIANE WINGERhikes and rock climbs extensively in Colorado, although her favorite outdoor activity is trekking.